The following words, terms, and phrases when used in this subchapter have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
- (1) “ACIM Alert Program” or “ACIM” means “A Child is Missing Alert Program”. The ACIM Alert Program is a national rapid-response communication network that offers free assistance to law-enforcement agencies to aid in the recovery, identity, or apprehension of missing persons through the use of immediate public notification and dissemination of information via telephone in a targeted community.
- (2) “Gold Alert Program” or “Program” means the procedures used to aid in the identification and location of a missing person as defined under paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of this section. Gold Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to issue a local Gold Alert is at the discretion of the investigating law-enforcement agency.
- (3) “Investigating law-enforcement agency” means the law-enforcement agency which has primary jurisdiction in the area in which a missing person complaint has been filed.
(4) “Missing person with a disability” means a person who is all of the following:
- a. Whose whereabouts are unknown.
- b. Whose domicile at the time that the person is reported missing is Delaware.
- c. Who has a disability.
- d. Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health or safety of the person, as determined by the investigating law-enforcement agency.
(5) “Missing senior citizen” means a person who is all of the following:
- a. Whose whereabouts are unknown.
- b. Whose domicile at the time that the person is reported is missing is Delaware.
- c. Whose age at the time that the person is first reported missing is 60 years of age or older.
- d. Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health or safety of the person, as determined by the investigating law-enforcement agency.
(6) “Missing suicidal person” means a person who is all of the following:
- a. Whose whereabouts are unknown.
- b. Whose domicile at the time that the person is reported missing is Delaware.
- c. Whose disappearance is voluntary.
- d. Whose statement, actions, or conduct indicate that the missing person may voluntarily cause or inflict harm on themselves, and whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the health or safety of the person, as determined by the investigating law-enforcement agency.
(7) “Missing child” means a person who is all of the following:
- a. Whose whereabouts are unknown.
- b. Whose domicile at the time that the person is reported missing is Delaware.
- c. Who is a minor who has not married, and who resides with a parent or other legal guardian.
- d. Whose disappearance does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert but does pose a credible threat to the health and safety of the person, as determined by the investigating law-enforcement agency.
76 Del. Laws, c. 379, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 84 Del. Laws, c. 196, § 1